'Will Push Farmers Into Debt Trap': Karnataka BJP Leader On Panel's Advice To Release 5,000 Cusecs Of Cauvery Water

Karnataka BJP leader Basavaraj Ingin has said that CWRC's decision will only push the farmers of the state into a debt trap.

Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) issued an interim order addressed to the Karnataka government and instructed it to release 5,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu daily for the next 15 days. Following this, leaders from both Tamil Nadu as well as Kerala have expressed their respective views. Karnataka BJP leader Basavaraj Ingin while talking about this said that it will only push farmers into a death trap. He added that since Karnataka in itself is facing a water shortage problem then the question of this water release shouldn't have even arisen, reported news agency ANI.

Ingin while talking to ANI said, "Recent order of CWRC to Govt of Karnataka is nothing but pushing farmers into a debt trap...When there is no water in Karnataka, besides Cauvery, the question of releasing water should not have arisen...Now Govt of Karnataka will have to struggle hard..."

General Secretary of Tamil Maanila Congress A.S. Munavar Basha while talking on the matter said, "This is a victory for delta farmers. But at the same time, the Karnataka Govt will not obey the instructions because in Tamil Nadu we don't have a bold CM. That is why this (Cauvery issue) happened. Had he been a bold CM, he would have got the water without any commission or court's direction...They have an alliance in INDIA but Karnataka Govt is not releasing water to Tamil Nadu. How will the people in Tamil Nadu vote for the INDIA alliance?"

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramiah on the recommendation said that he will consult legal experts and water resources officials. He added that the release of water to the lower riparian state is subject to the availability of the resource at the four dams in the Cauvery basin, reported the Times of India.

The CWRC met on Monday and heard arguments from both sides before it made the aforementioned recommendation. 

Even as Tamil Nadu farmers expressed their dissatisfaction with the CWRC recommendation, officials from the state left for Delhi to participate in the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) meeting, which is scheduled to be held on Tuesday.